The Owl Taxi - Taxi Library

What the Little Black Book Contained i8i
"I was in jail then," said Estuban coolly.
"In jail!" said the astonished Greg.
"Oh, that's nothing disgraceful in Managuay," said
Estuban bitterly. "Go on."
When Greg came to the end Estuban said thoughtfully:
"The man de Silva arrived in Managuay a
few days before I was arrested. He claimed to be
the representative of a New York trading house, and
was provided with seemingly
authentic credentials.
He had lived long enough in the United States to
imbibe hberal ideas it was thought, and we hoped to
secure in him a recruit to our side. No connection be-,
tween him and the de Socotra gang had appeared.
When I was separated from Sefior Bareda I suppose
he naturally turned to this man; he had to have an
interpreter. Even under the conditions that surrounded
us my poor master was always too slow to
suspect evil. It was I who was accustomed to protect
him from his own innocence of heart."
"And now we know," added Greg, "that de Silva
was sent down from New York especially for the
purpose of worming himself into Sefior Bareda's con-
fidence."
"Now I'll tell you what was in the little black book,"
said Estuban.
Greg
looked at his watch. "Hold on!" he said.
"It's past one. De Socotra might possibly return
here. His room is adjoining. We had better go down
to my own room where there is no danger of being
disturbed. In any case I have to be there at two to
receive a report over the telephone."